Parental controls are available across most major social media networks, yet their adoption remains low among both teens and parents. According to a report by The Washington Post, fewer than 10% of teens on Instagram had activated parental control settings by the end of 2022, with similarly low usage among parents.
Tech companies have faced scrutiny from Congress and advocacy groups regarding the potential harms of social media on young users. In response, these platforms argue that their parental control features can mitigate risks, but they require proactive activation by parents to be effective.
The functionalities of parental controls vary by platform, typically starting with monitoring capabilities that allow parents to oversee their teen’s communications. Some platforms extend these controls to include intervention options, regulating how their teen interacts with the app.
TikTok stands out for offering robust parental controls, likely due to intense regulatory scrutiny. These controls surpass those of Instagram and Snapchat, demonstrating TikTok’s effort to appease lawmakers and address concerns about youth safety.
While most social media platforms offer parental controls, their availability and sophistication can differ significantly. Meta (formerly Facebook) has implemented parental controls for many years, reflecting ongoing scrutiny over its impact on younger users. In contrast, platforms like Discord have only recently introduced such features, having operated largely unnoticed by regulators until now.
It’s crucial to note that despite these controls, teens can still create secret accounts, highlighting the limitations of parental oversight. Effective use of these tools often requires ongoing communication between parents and their teens to navigate digital safety together.